Infrastructure planning once focused on forecasting demand. AI changes the challenge. The critical question is no longer how much demand will emerge, but which infrastructure commitments should be made before demand is fully known—and who bears the risk if assumptions prove wrong.
Brandon Owens
IEA’s 2026 report shows energy and AI converging: $3.4T in investment, nearly 60% tied to electricity, $100B+ for data-center energy, and grids now the bottleneck. The next era belongs to infrastructure intelligence.
Brandon Owens
Utility CFOs must fund unprecedented grid growth from AI, data centers, electrification, and resilience needs while protecting affordability. The winners will use CIAC, large-load tariffs, flexibility, and disciplined cost allocation to build trust and avoid shifting costs to customers.
Hannah Kaplan